unsympathetic

adjective

un·​sym·​pa·​thet·​ic ˌən-ˌsim-pə-ˈthe-tik 

: not given to, marked by, or arising from sympathy : not sympathetic

an unsympathetic bystander

an unsympathetic review

unsympathetically

ˌən-ˌsim-pə-ˈthe-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

commenting unsympathetically

Synonyms

• affectless
• callous
• case-hardened
• cold-blooded
• compassionless
• desensitized
• hard
• hard-boiled
• hard-hearted
• heartless
• indurate
• inhuman
• inhumane
• insensate
• insensitive
• ironhearted
• merciless
• obdurate
• pachydermatous
• pitiless
• remorseless
• ruthless
• slash-and-burn
• soulless
• stony
• stoney
• stonyhearted
• take-no-prisoners
• thick-skinned
• uncharitable
• unfeeling
• unmerciful
• unsparing

Examples of unsympathetic in a Sentence

gave them an unsympathetic look and pointed out that they'd brought the problem on themselves

an aloof and unsympathetic man who does not engage in small talk

a bohemian artist who found the unsympathetic environment of the small town too much to bear

an unsympathetic reaction to her proposal to ban trans fats from the company cafeteria

Recent Examples on the Web

Using a card to tip was often impossible and could even elicit eye rolls from an unsympathetic bartender. —Anthony Palazzo, Fortune Europe, 10 May 2024

Daniel La Spata, 1st, chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety and someone who has shown himself to be unsympathetic when road changes lead to a loss of parking for local businesses, is pushing this idea. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined above